Ch.3Chapter 3

Demon God. It was a term referring to transcendents who either existed since the beginning of time or redefined themselves to elevate their status.

One couldn’t become a Demon God by simply being strong. Those who became Demon Gods were the ones who ignored the rules set by the world and established their own.

A common example was a being who escaped the rule that humans die when their lifespan ends.

By breaking just one rule, they alone achieved what those who dream of immortality aspire to. Using their absurdly long lifespan as a weapon, they reached heights unattainable even with a human lifespan, or even an elf’s lifespan. How could one not call them dangerous?

Ourr was the same.

The more Ourr kills, the younger her physical age becomes. It was truly a form difficult to call ordinary. She had already distorted one of the world’s rules.

People age as time passes. Thinking back to Yuria and Ourr’s first meeting, the trigger was indeed death. If suicide worked for that purpose, she thought she could perhaps stop at a desired age and aim for immortality.

Though she was rather weak for an immortal being.

“—Ah!”

Today too, Ourr tripped over her skirt and fell forward. Even with a belt, her thin hips couldn’t seem to hold it up properly.

As Ourr got up, fumbling around, she desperately reached for her skirt. The sight of her inhaling sharply while pulling up her skirt as she rose could certainly be described as cute.

If only she didn’t insist on wearing oversized clothes, claiming she might grow bigger anytime, she wouldn’t fall like this. Thinking that, I smiled.

“Ugh…”

The sensation of falling had become familiar now. The feeling of helplessly planting my body on the floor seemed like something I didn’t even need to mention anymore.

The impact that followed never became familiar. Still, at least my palms didn’t get scraped. The loose clothes somehow managed to protect my palms. It was a bit sad that even folded, they were still this way.

I dusted off my knees along with my skirt.

Glancing at the Professor, I saw she was busy writing something. Perhaps she pretended not to see. I was grateful she didn’t come close to help me up like before.

Groaning, I settled back into my chair.

Perhaps because quite some time had passed, the weather had warmed up considerably. I wanted to surrender myself to the warm feeling, but this body couldn’t feel things like fatigue or drowsiness.

I could only sense the warm temperature and nothing more.

As I was basking in the sunlight coming through the window, the Professor, who had been writing something beside me, addressed me.

“Ourr, would you like to attend the Academy, even if you’re treated as equipment?”

“…As equipment?”

“You seem so bored. You don’t even need to sleep, so you must be spending a lot of time doing nothing.”

She must have felt sorry seeing me living such an idle life without doing anything. Maybe it was because I was just staring out the window boringly right now.

The Professor seemed to be waiting for my answer. She looked curious about what choice I would make. I quietly gazed at her sparkling blue eyes that seemed intrigued.

What would be good about attending the Academy? Would it really be a good place to go just to alleviate boredom? What if people feared me as a Demon God? If I’m called equipment, would that reduce such aversion even a little?

Many thoughts crossed my mind. Having never been there before, my worries were mountainous.

As I pouted and tilted my head back and forth, the Professor, perhaps finding it frustrating, casually suggested to me.

“I teach a class about Demon Gods. How about coming along as equipment for that class?”

Even as equipment, I was curious about what exactly I would be doing there.

“But I don’t really seem like a Demon God…”

“Still, a Demon God is a Demon God. Just a bit young.”

“Young is…”

“No, no, I mean overall. Originally, Demon Gods live for a long time and such.”

When I tried to object, the Professor flustered and quickly changed the subject.

Asking about my original age—how would I know that? My mouth automatically closed when she talked about an age I didn’t know. I wanted to say this was cheating, but I had no intention of arguing with the Professor, so I remained silent.

“But what do I do as equipment?”

“You just need to be there! Attend classes with me and such. Hmm, there’s a third-year class, and a second-year academy student class, so attending once a week on weekdays should be fine?”

From what I heard, there seemed to be no reason to just wait for the Professor here like last year. After all, there wasn’t much I could do in the research lab anyway.

I couldn’t read, so I couldn’t pass time looking at things, and I couldn’t touch things randomly because I didn’t know what they were, so I didn’t like just sitting still in a chair. Not wanting to spend my days like that, I nodded.

“O-okay, I’ll do it… I just follow you and listen to lectures, right?”

“So you’ve decided?”

“Yes.”

The Professor smiled brightly, seemingly delighted that I had agreed to attend the Academy. Not knowing how to react, I stretched my arms and rested my cheek on the desk.

The cold sensation of the desk transmitted through my cheek. My body shivered slightly. I spent time quietly feeling that sensation.

As I spent time watching the Professor work, she must have felt my gaze as she looked in my direction and smiled. Not knowing what that smile meant, I quickly averted my eyes.

Today too, she seemed to be done with work as she began organizing the documents on her office desk. The books that had been stacked neatly soon returned to the bookshelf.

“Should I help you?”

“Would you? I’m just organizing my desk.”

When I got up and asked, the Professor pointed to her desk. I looked at her desk once, then at the rectangular desk where I had been sitting.

This side had completely turned into a storage area, but she didn’t seem to have any intention of cleaning it. Well, the Professor must have her reasons for what she does.

I got up and went to where her desk was. It was filled with books covered in indecipherable characters.

Hugging as many as I could carry, I went to the front of the Professor who was organizing the bookshelf. She placed her hand on my head once and then took the books one by one.

Books finding their places. It was a moment when the previously empty spots on the bookshelf were being filled.

“With Ourr’s help, we’ll finish quickly.”

As she said, the Professor really finished organizing the books quickly. The desk was now clean, with only the computer and a few necessary documents remaining.

As I was quietly looking at it, the Professor gently lifted my sleeve. Startled by my arm rising along with it, I turned my head.

“Should we get you a school uniform too?”

“The clothes I have now are fine.”

The Professor was lost in thought about my attire while looking at my body. She had already provided me with a uniform similar to my hair color, but it seemed she thought a new outfit was necessary if she was going to take me to lectures as equipment.

But if I’m not a student, do I really need a uniform? It didn’t seem right to be treated like a student when I wasn’t even an enrolled student.

Everyone there would have worked hard to get in, and I didn’t want rumors about someone who wasn’t even a student wearing a uniform with the Professor’s backing.

“Really…? Then let’s think about it slowly?”

“Umm, okay…”

When I reluctantly nodded, the Professor smiled at me and patted my head. I don’t understand why she keeps touching my head.

My hair isn’t neat anyway, so it doesn’t matter if it gets messy.

“Then shall we go shopping today?”

“What are you buying?”

“Just some food… and research materials?”

“Are we going to the mart today then?”

“We should. Shall we go now?”

The Professor looked at her watch once, and thinking it would be too late if they didn’t go now, she quickly changed into her coat. The white coat always seemed to make her look beautiful.

It had been a while since we came to the mart. The first place we went was the Mana Stone corner. The store, which had been set up by a refinery, was selling various refined mana stones.

I followed behind the Professor, looking around the mart.

Somewhere between modern and contemporary. The mart in this world with its unique atmosphere was always fascinating. It made even non-existent curiosity arise.

Who would think such things would be sold in a mart?

Mana Stones used to extract mana, and Refined Mana Stones further processed to be embedded in magical tools. It had an atmosphere similar to a jewelry store but different from handling gems.

The Professor looked at them quietly and then pointed.

“Are these quality guaranteed?”

In a box about the size of a dictionary, there were red-glowing Mana Stones. It looked heavy with quite a number of them inside.

“Yes, everything there is quality guaranteed! Take your time to check. But if you extract mana, you’ll have to compensate accordingly!”

“Hmm… I’ll take all of these.”

The Professor seemed to be examining each stone inside, then nodded and opened her wallet. The shop owner’s surprised expression was quite a sight to see.

How often would one see such a big man so surprised?

“Shall I carry it?”

“…No, if you trip while holding this, it would be a disaster.”

When I slightly poked my head out and asked, the Professor shook her head. The thick wad of bills that exchanged hands suggested these were quite expensive.

I cast my gaze downward.

Hesitating, I checked my loosely fastened belt once more. Confident that it wouldn’t slip down for a while, I followed the Professor with my short legs.

The Professor glanced at me and placed her hand on my back. It seemed like she was telling me to walk together, so I walked beside her instead of behind.

“Shall we go buy food now?”

I don’t really need to eat, but the Professor insists on making portions for me too. Even when I refuse, she asks me to join her because she feels lonely eating alone, so now it’s awkward to refuse.

“Okay.”

So I just walked along, accommodating the Professor’s mood.